'Monster Concert' set to light up MCFTA stage

Published 7:00 pm, Friday, January 8, 2010

Midland Center for the Arts was alive with the sound of 14 grand pianos on Friday night as children rehearsed for the 20th annual Keyboard Fest.

Affectionately nicknamed the "Monster Concert," Keyboard Fest will bring more than 300 children to the stage for a 7 p.m. concert tonight with pianos donated by Evola Music.

"It's such a great experience for these kids to get up on stage," said Jim Hohmeyer, the conductor for the concert.

Hohmeyer has been conducting Keyboard Fest for the past several years and explained that it is a much different experience than conducting an orchestra.

Throughout the evening, he had fun demonstrating how certain sections of the music should be played. When one group of children continually skipped over a pause in playing, Hohmeyer made them all get up and jump once.

"That jump is how long you should keep your fingers off the keys," he said.

All of the teachers who participate in Keyboard Fest are part of the Midland Music Teachers Association, which also sponsors the event.

Heather DeGroot is both a piano teacher and a parent to Shannon, 11, who is also performing in the concert. She has been involved with Keyboard Fest for about 14 years and says that she has never seen anything like this event.

She said that most pianists perform alone, which makes Keyboard Fest a very unique and rare experience.

Many of the children have been involved in Keyboard Fest for several years. Susanna Weick, 13, and Tori Isley, 11, are both students of Diana Kurin and have participated in at least four previous concerts.

Both of them felt ready enough for the performance, but Susanna said there is always room to be more prepared.

Susanna also added that she felt more excited than nervous, but they both said there were some nerves before getting up on stage, although the repeat performances have made things easier.

"I think it's easier because there are a lot of people," Tori said.

Many parents sat and watched their children rehearse. Carol Vinande has two children in the concert, Hannah, 13, and Natalie, 11, and they have each performed in Keyboard Fest for the past three years.

"It's a great experience for them to be on a big stage playing in public," Vinande said.

Keyboard Fest begins at 7 p.m. tonight. Tickets are available at the MCFTA box office.